Transportation
Schedules and fares are subject to change.
Airport to City Access
Train, bus, taxi, and other options to the city center
Uganda's main gateway is Entebbe International Airport (EBB), about an hour by car from central Kampala. Prearranged hotel transfers and airport taxis are the usual way in; ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber also operate. Agree the fare or use the app before setting off, and allow extra time for Kampala traffic.
- Airport
- Entebbe (EBB)
- To Kampala
- About 1 hour by car
- Options
- Transfer, taxi, Bolt/Uber
- Prearranged transfers are convenient on arrival
- Allow extra time for Kampala traffic
Public Transportation
Metro, bus, tram, and how to use them
Everyday transport in Kampala runs on boda-bodas (motorbike taxis) and matatus (shared minibuses). Boda-bodas are fast through traffic but ride only with a helmet and, ideally, via an app such as SafeBoda. Matatus follow set routes with no fixed timetable; you pay the conductor. There is no metro or tram.
- Boda-boda
- Motorbike taxi, use a helmet
- Matatu
- Shared minibus, set routes
- No metro
- No metro or tram
- App-based boda (SafeBoda) is safer and clearer
- Pay the matatu conductor for your fare
IC Cards & Travel Passes
Discount passes and rechargeable transit cards
Uganda has no rechargeable transit smart card like those in some cities. Instead, mobile money (MTN MoMo and Airtel Money) is the everyday way to pay and is widely accepted for transport, shops and transfers. Boda and matatu fares are usually cash or mobile money, so keep small notes and a registered mobile money account.
- Transit card
- No IC card system
- Pay by
- Cash or mobile money
- Mobile money
- MTN MoMo, Airtel Money
- Keep small notes for boda and matatu fares
- A registered mobile money account is very handy
Car Rental & Driving
License requirements and traffic rules
Uganda drives on the left. Many visitors hire a 4x4 with a driver, especially for safaris, as roads outside towns can be rough and unpaved. Self-drive is possible but demands care: watch for boda-bodas, pedestrians and livestock, and avoid night driving on unlit rural roads. Bring an International Driving Permit if self-driving.
- Drives on
- The left
- Common
- 4x4 with a driver
- Watch for
- Bodas, livestock, night roads
- Roads outside towns can be rough and unpaved
- Avoid night driving on unlit rural roads
Intercity Travel
Long-distance buses, trains, and ferries
Long-distance coaches connect Kampala with towns across the country and the region; operators such as Link Bus serve routes to the west and beyond. Coaches are affordable but journeys can be long on busy roads. For remote safari areas, many travellers combine a coach with a private 4x4 transfer or a local flight.
- Coaches
- Link Bus and others
- Hub
- Kampala to towns/region
- Safari areas
- Combine with 4x4 or flight
- Coaches are affordable but journeys can be long
- Book popular routes ahead in busy periods
Domestic Flights
Budget airlines and booking tips
Domestic and scheduled charter flights (operators such as Aerolink) save a lot of time to safari regions like Murchison Falls and the far southwest, where road journeys are long. Flights use small aircraft with strict luggage limits, so pack light in soft bags. For shorter trips, road transfer is usually more economical.
- Worth flying
- Safari regions (e.g. Murchison)
- Operator
- Aerolink and others
- Luggage
- Strict limits, soft bags
- Flights save time to remote safari areas
- Pack light in soft bags for small aircraft
Transportation Tips
Advice for safe and efficient travel
Set up mobile money (MTN MoMo or Airtel Money) early, as it is used for fares, shops and transfers. Keep small notes for boda and matatu rides. Remember Uganda drives on the left, and always wear a helmet on a boda-boda. Allow extra time for Kampala traffic, and prefer app-based rides for clearer fares and safety.
- Pay
- Mobile money + small notes
- Boda
- Always wear a helmet
- Traffic
- Allow time in Kampala
- Uganda drives on the left
- Prefer app-based rides for clearer fares